Thursday, September 20, 2007

"Natural" Colic Remedy Recall Due To Potential Parasite Contamination

From an Associated Press report published in the Mercury News:

"California health officials on Wednesday warned parents not to give their children a liquid herbal supplement that is marketed as a remedy for colic and teething pain because several bottles tested positive for a parasite that may have a sickened a 6-week-old infant in Minnesota.

Lab tests conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirmed the presence of Cryptosporidium, a parasite that can cause diarrhea and intestinal infections, in unopened bottles of apple-flavored Baby's Bliss Gripe Water, according to the state health department. The supplement's s distributor, MOM Enterprises of San Rafael, has recalled about 17,600 bottles of the product that were being sold through the Internet and at retail stores nationwide, the health department said."


I'm not a big fan of herbal supplements for babies, especially when they are just 6 weeks old. They're too little and they're too new. Herbs are plants, and their medicinal content can vary according to soil conditions, growing area, etc. Babies are just so tiny that a little too much of something can have a real effect. So, natural or not, I lean towards being very cautious about what I give an infant.

For colic, there is a much more natural solution -- breastfeeding. That is the best thing you can do to prevent colic and you certainly don't have to worry about any recall related issues... unless you've got chemical filled implants.

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